Tarnished Souls

Coming soon

from Aphrodite's Apples

“Do not be frightened of me, Cassie? I will not harm you.”

“Then what do you want?”

Laughter caressed my mind as well as my body jolting bolts of ecstasy through me. My body arched and I had to grip the back of the chair so I would not fall over. My head grew fuzzy like it was filling with cobwebs, but I fought the ultimate temptation sweeping over me and it cleared. I searched the room, but there was still no one there. The violin music was louder and leading into a crescendo and just as sad. I felt it tugging at my heart and if I continued to listen to it, I would be sucked into its vortex. Was this exactly the same kind of music Faust heard when he struck his deal with the Devil?

“Sit and eat, Cassie. Much of you is still human and you require sustenance.”

A table appeared next to the table. As it did, my stomach growled. I had not eaten for a while. Dishes of fresh fruit were spread out on the table. Strawberries as big as my hand and slices of pear and papaya. Cheese and bread and even a bowl of pomegranate seeds. I chuckled.

“So if I eat any of this I have to stay in the Underworld for six months of the year so you can own me?”

“I think you have me confused with Hades. I am not a demi-god nor are you a virginal goddess being watched over by an overprotected goddess. Those are just myths. Eat and be comfortable. There are no tricks here. What you see is what you see.”

Dubious of the statement, after a moment I did sat down on the edge of the chair and picked at one of the strawberries. They were my favorite. They were shaped like mini hearts and ruby red as Snow White’s apple. I half expected them to start beating. I slowly took a bite and it was as sweet and luscious as it looked. After eating a couple of them, I decided to try the other delicacies on the plate. Each of them was as good as they looked. Finally my stomach stopped rumbling and the music of the violin had calmed to a lull, but it was still sad. The fire warmed me and before I realized it, I was soothed to sleep.